Ball club planning fundraiser for Cooperstown trip
By Mike Lydick Correspondent
AGAWAM — A local boys baseball team will have an outdoor movie night on May 29 to raise money for the team to travel to Cooperstown, New York, this summer for a tournament.
The Western Mass Invaders is a private/independent travel baseball organization that plays its home games at St. John’s Field in Agawam. According to Janette Vigo, a team manager, the roster is made up of “12 dedicated young athletes from Western Massachusetts who have worked extremely hard — both on and off the field — to earn this opportunity to go to Cooperstown.”
The movie night is at School Street Park with showtime at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 and all proceeds will be used to help the team travel to Cooperstown. There are 250 tickets available. They can be purchased on Venmo. Popcorn, water and snacks will be available for purchase at the event.
If the movie night is cancelled due to rain, 50% of each ticket will be refunded and the remaining 50% will go to support the fundraiser.
The featured movie is the warmhearted “The Sandlot.”
The classic 1993 family film
The Western Mass Invaders, an Agaawm-based travel boys baseball team, will have an outdoor movie night on May 29 to raise money for the team to travel to Cooperstown, New York, this summer for a tournament.
Think you know what a human trafficker looks like? Guess again.
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
Human trafficking happens in Western Massachusetts. That is the number one message Amber Estelle, deputy COO and clinical director of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, wants to share.
Estelle has personally worked with about 50 victims of trafficking through a program she ran for the YWCA. To her knowledge, none of the people were trafficked by the same person or group. The program was shuttered due to funding issues, but Estelle said the YWCA sees trafficking victims show up in their shelter program.
In 2024, the latest year for which there is data, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 288 signals from Massachusetts, 91 of which were from victims or survivors of trafficking. While 68% of victims are trafficked for sex, people can also be trafficked for labor or a combination of the two. About 85% of trafficking victims are women, but men are also trafficked.
Estelle explained that traffick-
ers are drawn to locations where people have disposable income. Such locations include highstakes sporting events, or as Estelle specifically noted, the MGM Springfield casino. She said Interstate 91 offers a corridor for travel between states without checkpoints, as does the passenger rail service through Springfield’s Union Station. These transportation methods make it easier to traffic people without fear of being caught, she said.
Estelle emphasized that not all sex workers choose to participate in that lifestyle. People who are being trafficked are often threatened and sometimes threatened with violence towards their child or other loved ones. Victims may be hesitant to leave because they think they are in love with their exploiter or they are trauma-bonded to other victims.
As part of the program she used to run at the YWCA, Estelle said she separated victims from the geographical area they were trafficked in. This lessened the likelihood of the victim being manipulated into going back to the
situation. Estelle also said stable income is important because financial strain can be a powerful tool for manipulation.
When Estelle asks young people what a human trafficker looks like, she said the answers are usually the same. They assume traffickers look like “thugs” or “drug dealers,” someone who dresses “flashy” and drives an expensive car, Estelle said. However, the truth is that most victims of trafficking are exploited by someone they know.
Many times, traffickers will approach people online, pretending they are the same age and gender. After establishing a rapport and gaining someone’s trust, they will start asking personal questions and eventually get the victim to agree to meet them somewhere.
Traffickers also use other victims to befriend and recruit people, telling them they can make quick money and that “it’s not that bad,” Estelle said. The YWCA evicted a woman from their shelter because she was recruiting other women on behalf of a trafficker. Occasionally, parents with a substance use
disorder will sell their children to traffickers to fund their addiction.
“There’s no one person, no one race or gender. It could be a sweet, little, old lady baking cookies, but she could be a madam,” Estelle said.
Estelle said there are “red flags” to be aware of:
• If they ask a lot of questions or ask personal questions about where someone lives, works or their home life
• If they encourage someone to do something out of their comfort zone
• If they are a love bomber — someone who manipulates another person early in a relationship with over-the-top compliments, lavish gifts or grand gestures. They may want constant attention, pressure someone to move quickly, ignore boundaries or have sudden mood changes, including anger and withdrawal.
Another common tactic is approaching an intended target with talk of being a modeling scout or photographer and trying to get the person to model for them. Es-
telle said this happened to her on a train in California once. She did not go with the person but was later told by a woman at the station to avoid the man because he took her somewhere where she was assaulted. If you cannot easily find information online about the person or alleged business, do not trust them, Estelle said. If someone is approached by a person who says they are being trafficked, Estelle said safety should be the number one priority. Call 911 and get as much information about the person as possible in case they run away. Do not bring the person to your home, she said. Traffickers will sometimes use this tactic to follow a target home. If you must drive them somewhere, go straight to a police station, she said. The National Human Trafficking Hotline can be contacted by calling 1-888-373-7888, TTY: 711, texting “BEFREE” 233733, emailing help@humantraffickinghotline.org, or using the web chat or online reporting through its website, humantraffickinghotline.org.
Public health chief urges vigilance against tick bites in ‘peak season’
By Alison Kuznitz State House News Service
BOSTON — Massachusetts is entering “peak season” for tick activity, the state’s public health chief said on May 13 as he urged Bay Staters to take precautions like checking themselves for bites after spending time outdoors.
“Early surveillance data show that emergency department visits for tick bites have risen rapidly as residents return to outdoor activities,” Public Health Com-
missioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said. “While adult ticks can be active whenever temperatures are above freezing, we are particularly concerned about the emergence of nymph-stage deer ticks in May and June.”
Those ticks are the size of a poppy seed and can spread infectious diseases, including Lyme disease and Powassan virus, Goldstein said at a Public Health Council meeting.
Health officials are also ramping up monitoring of Alpha-gal
syndrome, which is dubbed the “red meat allergy” and is spread through bites from lone star ticks.
People’s immune systems may produce antibodies in response to alpha-gal sugars spread through tick saliva. Individuals could then experience allergic reactions when eating red meat, dairy or other products containing the sugar, according to a state webpage.
“Collecting data on cases of alpha-gal will help DPH track the expansion of the lone star tick and improve public aware-
ness about the condition,” said Goldstein, who explained the alpha-gal sugar molecule is found in most mammals. “In some people, the bite of a lone star tick rewires the human immune system to treat that sugar as a threat.”
Allergic reactions include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hives or a “life-threatening anaphylactic reaction,” the commissioner said. Reactions may take two to 10 hours to develop.
“The good news is that for many people, these allergic reac-
tions may decrease over time if further exposures are avoided,” Goldstein said. Lone star ticks were historically located in the southern part of the country. But Goldstein said they spread to Massachusetts due to warmer winters and are concentrated on Cape Cod and the islands.
Bay Staters should check themselves daily for tick bites, use repellent, and wear protective clothing, Goldstein recommended.
Holyoke Community College celebrates Phi Theta Kappa inductees
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College is proud to announce that 169 HCC students have been accepted for membership into the Alpha Xi Omega chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa national honor
society for 2026. Students are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa when they have completed 15 college credits while maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
HCC’s 2026 inductees were recognized during a campus celebration on May 7.
Agawam David Abramchuk, Aidan Cava-
Ball Club
Continued from page 1
The tournament is scheduled for July 24-29, at Cooperstown Dreams Park. The team will participate in a week-long tournament experience, where teams from across the country come together to compete. “For many youth baseball players, Cooperstown is considered a once-in-alifetime baseball experience and one of the biggest milestones in youth travel baseball,” said Vigo.
“This trip is incredibly important to these boys because it represents years of hard work, dedication, growth and commitment to both the sport and each other as teammates,” added Vigo.
She said many of these kids have played together for years and have built strong friendships and memories through baseball.
“Cooperstown is something youth players dream about — it gives them the opportunity to compete against teams from all
naugh, Kenna Rainville. Feeding Hills Jose Dejesus, Grace Leiper, Giuliana Silva.
West Springfield Patrick Assenga, Savannah Comstock, Noah Cunningham, Matthew Howe, Baye Leary, Benjamin Macgrath, Hannah Maiorano, Nessalyn Neth.
over the country, experience the traditions and atmosphere surrounding the game and create memories they will carry with them forever.”
Vigo said that for boys on the Western Mass Invaders, it’s much bigger than just baseball.
“It’s about teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship, community support and giving them an experience they may never have the opportunity to have again. Seeing the community rally behind them throughout all the fundraising efforts has also meant a great deal to the players and their families.”
The team’s goal is to raise approximately $10,000. The money will be used to help cover tournament-related expenses including umpire fees, player uniforms, trading pins, lodging-related tournament costs and the overall Cooperstown Dreams Park experience for the players and families.
In addition to the movie event the team is also seeking sponsors. Business names/logos will be featured on the team banner.
John Adams portrayist to follow annual meeting of AHA
AGAWAM — The public is invited to the historic Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main St., for the annual meeting of the Agawam Historical Association at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. Following the election of officers and directors, announcement of the Agawam Historical Association-Marilyn P. Curry Memorial Scholarship recipient, and a short business meeting, will be the featured presentation “Meet John Adams — A Lively and Revolutionary Conversation with America’s Second President.”
Acclaimed John Adams portrayist George Baker will transport audience members to the Revolutionary era with his engaging and entertaining portrayal of America’s second president. Wearing historically accurate clothing and performing songs from the period, Baker will capture the Massachusetts native’s sharp wit, principled leadership and deep commitment to the American experiment.
Baker’s portrayal is part of the association’s year-long cel-
ebration of the United States semiquincentennial. Sheryl Faye’s one-woman show “Abigail Adams — Liberty & Legacy” was presented to a capacity crowd at the group’s March meeting. An 18th century encampment is among activities planned for a July 4 event at the association’s historic Thomas Smith House in Feeding Hills.
Baker has performed his oneman show throughout the country, at venues such as the New York Historical Society, the Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and George H. W. Bush Presidential Libraries and was featured on National Public Radio’s weekend program, Studio 360. A lawyer by profession, Baker brings clarity and credibility to Adams’s ideas through a blend of history, music and storytelling, making Adams feel immediate and human, rather than distant and monumental.
The program concludes with time for thoughtful audience questions and conversation.
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is
The Agawam Historical Association annual meeting will take place at the historic Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main St., Agawam, on Thursday, May 28, at 6:30 p.m. John Adams portrayist George Baker will present “Meet John Adams — A Lively and Revolutionary Conversation with America’s Second President” following the election of officers and a brief business meeting.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
suggested. Please send the names of those attending to 1855@agawamhistory.org with ANNUAL MEETING in the subject line. Due to limited seating, preference will be given to Agawam Historical Association members. Membership information can be found at agawamhistory.org.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam Cultural council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Big priorities won’t emerge in Senate until after budget clears
By Ella Adams State House News Service
BOSTON — Senate President
Karen Spilka on May 12 foreshadowed primary care and energy legislation, and the Senate’s potential “near-term” approach to youth social media regulations.
Spilka threaded her remarks to a business group with references to investments within the $63.3 billion Senate Ways and Means fiscal year 2027 budget, acknowledgement of affordability issues, and concerns that the state has lost federal funding, and could lose more, under the Trump administration.
“This solid budget proposal does not change the fact that we have significant clouds forming on the horizon,” Spilka said during an Associated Industries
of Massachusetts event at the New England Aquarium in Boston’s Wharf District.
“Like municipalities, we have heard loud and clear from businesses of all sizes that cost pressures from energy, housing and workforce shortages are real,” Spilka said. “Recent AIM data shows business confidence has dipped, in part due to rising energy costs linked to global tensions and shifting trade policies. In addition, Trump and his administration have cut nearly four billion dollars in state revenue.”
Spilka called the bump in U.S. jobs last month “resilience in action,” noting that April state tax revenues in Massachusetts “exceeded our expectations by $1 billion.”
Spilka said the Senate is still
“preparing a primary care reform bill for debate before the end of this session,” observing that rising health care costs are a major factor in business and family budgets.
Spilka flagged primary care as a priority at the start of the 20252026 legislative session, and said on May 12 that the Senate will take up primary care after its budget deliberations, which started on May 19.
Spilka attributed energy price shocks to “global conflict and unpredictable weather events.”
While she added that those costs are “another worry” for businesses and residents, she defended a slate of decarbonization and clean energy laws that some analysts say are contributing too greatly to rising costs baked into utility bills.
GARDEN CLUB SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED — Tyler Saroglou was named the 2026 awardee of the Agawam Garden Club Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to a Agawam High School and is planning to attend an institution of higher learning in the fall and is majoring or planning to major in an environmental study. The scholarship is for $1,000. Saroglou, second from right, is pictured with his parents and club member Luann Nowill (right).
“We also understand that rolling back our green energy ambitions will only serve to make severe weather, and its costs, worse, as well as dampen the progress we have made on creating good-paying green jobs,” she said.
Spilka added that the Senate is “committed to balancing climate leadership, economic competitiveness and cost savings in our forthcoming energy bill.”
The House passed an energy affordability bill in February, which would cut $1 billion from the Mass Save program. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee Co-chair Sen. Michael Barrett recently said he would “have a hard time cutting the MassSave budget.”
After her remarks, Spilka told AIM President Brooke Thomson said “there will be savings in our energy bill. I don’t want to say specifically where at this point.”
“It will, no surprise, be different than the House,” Spilka said.
Spilka expressed hope that the state will have a new cellphone policy in place by the start of the next school year. The Senate last July passed a bill that would ban cellphone use bell-to-bell in schools across the state. The House in April passed a bill mirroring the cellphone legislation while adding a ban on social me-
dia for kids under the age of 14. Gov. Maura Healey has also proposed her own youth social media regulations.
“As for kids’ use of social media, the Senate still has some work to do there,” Spilka said, referencing a recent “Keller at Large” segment that featured Harvard professor and Digital Wellness Lab Founder Dr. Michael Rich to give “insight in the direction I’d like us to go in the near-term.”
“I will do my best to summarize his approach to social media by posing the question: What happens to something when you restrict it, especially for kids?” the Ashland Democrat asked. “It often becomes even more desirable.”
Spilka said “in that vein,” she’s working with Senate Majority Whip Michael Rush to file an amendment to the FY27 budget that would provide $2 million to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education “for grants to school districts for programs that use evidence-based education and health resources” to promote “safe” and “responsible” social media use.
Ella Adams is a reporter for the State House News Service and State Affairs Massachusetts. Reach her at ella.adams@statehousenews.com.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
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TOWN EVENTS
School Street and continues to the new veteran memorual in School Street Park with a ceremony. There will be a picnic in the park following the ceremony.
AGAWAM GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE
AGAWAM
AGAWAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the Agawam Public Library, located at 750 Cooper St. All events are free and open to the public. Some programs require registration. For more information or to register, head to agawamlibrary.org or call 413-789-1550 ext. 3. The library will be closed on May 25 in honor of Memorial Day.
• One-on-One Library Tech Help Appointments — Tuesday, May 26, between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
AGAWAM MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
The Agawam Veterans Council will be hosting its annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony on Monday, May 25. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Bethany Assembly of God, located at 580 Main St., enters onyo Main Street, turns down
The Agawam Garden Club’s annual Plant Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 30, on the grounds of the historic Thomas Smith House, 251 North West St., Feeding Hills. The plant sale will include many perennials and shrubs, all from members’ gardens, and all priced to sell. Because the plants are all grown locally, they are well acclimated to the area’s growing conditions. Proceeds from the sale help fund the club’s annual scholarship and other educational programs throughout the year.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
WEST SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC
LIBRARY
The following events are organized by the West Springfield Public Library, located at 200 Park St. For more information or to register for programs, visit wspl.org or call 413736-4561 ext. 4. The library will be closed on May 25 in honor of Memorial Day.
Youth programs: Graphic Novel Bookclub (for ages 8-12) — Tuesday, May 26, 4-4:30 p.m.
Teen/adult programs: Stitch Club for Teens and Adults — Tuesday, May 26, from 6-7:30 p.m. Bring any stitch or fiber-related craft to our fun and social stitch club! Light instruction and some basic supplies provided for beginner crafters. Open to ages 13 and up.
FRIENDS OF THE WEST
SPRINGFIELD LIBRARY
AUTHOR TALK AND SIGNING
The Friends of the West Springfield Library will be hosting an author talk and book signing with local author Carole Appleton on Saturday, May 23, from 1-3 p.m. in the West Springfield Public Library Community room. She will be discussing her book, “Betrayal of Trust”, which is based on a true story about elder financial abuse.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
West Springfield will be hosting its annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Town Common, 128 Park St., on Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. There will be a speaking program
featuring local officials and veterans, a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the fallen, musical tributes and the playing of taps.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR FARM SHARE PROGRAM
CISA is offering another year of Senior FarmShares via the West Springfield Council on Aging. This share has a value of $230 and they are able to provide it at a $10 cost. The WSCOA is again working with Granny’s Place in Agawam to offer fresh vegetables each week. Enrollment for the program is only open until May 29. Occasionally the COA receives more applications than spots available in which case a lottery will be held. Applicants will be notified in early June if they have been selected for the program. Upon acceptance, participants will pay the $10 for the share (via cash or SNAP). Weekly share distribution will begin in late July in order to give participants a full selection of summer and fall bounty. Applications are available on the WSCOA website and at the Senior Center office. This is a low income program for West Springfield residents 60 and older.
Island real estate fees would have ‘minimal’ impact
By Alison Kuznitz State House News Service
BOSTON — New fees on certain real estate transactions on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket would unlock millions of dollars for needed affordable units without negative market impacts, according to a new analysis that arrives as transfer fee bills remain bottled up in committees.
Opponents of real estate transfer fees have warned they could negatively affect the housing market by reducing sales and home prices, and the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute report released on May 13 appears intended to address those assertions.
The report asserts there’s a different dynamic in “resort markets with limited supply and inelastic demand, like the islands and other seasonal communities,” where the impact of transfer fees on “transactions and prices will be minimal.” In the Hamptons in New York, where four towns in 2023 added a transfer fee to fund affordable housing and housing assistance programs, researchers found sales volumes “remained steady and consistent.”
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission and Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission requested the report, as the island communities try to appeal for remedies to alleviate
severe shortages of affordable and “attainable” year-round housing. In 2024, median single-family homes prices hit $1.4 million on Martha’s Vineyard and $3.7 million on Nantucket, representing the most expensive housing in Massachusetts.
About 60% of the islands’ housing stock is seasonally vacant, which the report attributes to demand for second homes and short-term rentals from high-income buyers. Essential workers — including those in health care, public safety, public works and education — are increasingly struggling to keep their jobs amid sky-high housing costs, and employers are paying more in housing subsidies to retain them.
Proposed real estate transfer fees could generate more than $10 million on Martha’s Vineyard to fund housing initiatives, and over $3.8 million on Nantucket, according to the report. The money could be used to acquire and adapt existing housing, impose deed restrictions for affordable units, construct new housing, incentivize owners of short-term or seasonal rentals to offer the units to yearround residents, or enable local government to provide assistance to workers — with the strategies spurring various degrees of economic activity.
“This report clearly shows what islanders have known and have been lobbying for over a decade,” state Sen. Julian Cyr, a Truro Democrat, told the News Service. “Transfer fees in seasonal communities with a luxury real estate market work.” He added, “What we’re essentially asking of my colleagues is let Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard help ourselves.”
Several real estate transfer proposals from Cyr have made it to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, after clearing the Housing Committee that he co-chairs. That includes a bill (S 966) allowing municipalities designated as “seasonal communities” — meaning they experience major seasonal employment shifts, based on the
2024 affordable housing law — to impose transfer fees ranging from 0.5% to 2%, with an exemption threshold of typically $1 million.
Another bill (S 2981) would implement recommendations from the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council, including allowing local-option transfer fees of up to 2%.
With about 12 weeks remaining for lawmakers to pass major bills and get them into negotiating committees, Cyr said there are a “number of vehicles” to advance real estate transfer fees.
“I think there’s gonna be a few opportunities and bites of the apple, but I can’t say anything specific,” said Cyr, who noted he did not file any budget amendments to try to address the issue next week.
Cape and island communities have filed home rule petitions for transfer fees, though Cyr said those individual proposals are not expected to pass.
“I would also say our continued failure to be able to significantly stem the housing crisis on both islands and on many parts of the Cape is a significant burden on our businesses, on employers,” Cyr
said. “It’s a drag on our economy.”
The Cape Cod and Islands Association of REALTORS opposes transfer taxes, calling them a “detriment” to the “entire real estate industry.”
“As the tax is levied only on buyers and sellers of property, the burden per taxpayer is much greater than the burden from a more broad-based tax designed to generate the same amount of revenue,” the association’s public policy guide states. “Inherently, a real estate transfer tax is an unstable revenue source and discriminatory, as it is unpredictable, and it only targets a specific action of the public and yet the revenues are typically used to benefit the community.”
The UMass Donahue report incorporates a survey among nearly 300 employers on the islands that found just over half had lost workers over housing costs or had prospective hires decline offers because of housing unavailability. Some businesses on Martha’s Vineyard are paying nearly $13,000 annually per employee on housing subsidies, with
Transfer fee supporters from Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket prepare to enter the State House for a lobby day on March 23, 2023. State House News Service photo by Sam Doran
Westfield-West Springfield Elks honor 19 for annual youth week
By Amy Porter aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — The Westfield-West Springfield Elks Lodge 1481 observed the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Youth Week with a recognition of accomplishments by area youth at its lodge at 56 Franklin St. on May 6.
“The youth of our country has always been important in the purposes of The BPOE. Our youth activities programs are designed to aid in the character development of young people, to recognize their many contributions to the functioning of our society, and to encourage them in maturing into tomorrow’s citizens and leaders,” said Patricia O’Connor, youth activities chair.
Recognized at the event were 19 students from the Greater Westfield area incorporating Westfield, West Springfield, Agawam and Southwick. Honored were nine Elks Americanism Essay winners, one of whom was named a winner of the state level competition and is moving forward to the national level. Also recognized were six Students of the Year, graduating seniors from each of the high schools, one Most Valuable Student, winner of a highly competitive national-level scholarship program and two Eagle Scouts.
The Elks National Americanism Essay contest encourages young people to thoughtfully consider American values and appreciate the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship. The contest gives students in grades 5-8 an opportunity to express their views on a selected theme. This year’s theme was, “What does service to your country mean to you?”
O’Connor said nine Americanism Essay winners were recognized by the Elks Lodge 1481 out of 138 entries from seven area schools. The lodge’s top three for each grade were forwarded to the district level and the state level. The national win-
Past Exalted Ruler Milt Vazquez presented a certificate of appreciation to Andrew Caldeira for volunteerism in service to the lodge. Reminder Publishing submitted photos
ners will be named in July. Winners for grade 5 were all from Tatham Elementary School in West Springfield. First place went to Teagan Wapner, second place went to Claire Camberis and third place went to Daphne Bouyea.
After moving on to the state level, Wapner took third place for grade 5 and went on to the national level judging. Teagan will share her essay at the Elks Lodge 1481 Flag Day ceremony on June 10.
Americanism Essay winners for grade 6 were all from Roberta G. Doering School in Agawam. First place went to Nancy D’Ambrosio, second place went to Yvette Whitley and third place went to Ava Cooney. Grade 8 winners were all from Agawam Junior High School. First place
went to Sophia Fields, second place went to Emmalynn Bishop and third place went to Karyna Sholopa.
Elks Lodge 1481 Student of the Year is a lodge-run program. One graduating senior from each high school is chosen based on the qualities of leadership, citizenship and community service, as those traits closely mirror the Elks principles of charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity, O’Connor said. In addition to the lodge’s award, each received citations from Mayor Michael McCabe, state Sen. John Velis’s office and state Rep. Kelly Pease.
The recipients are Brandon Cekovsky of Westfield High School, Julia Kubik of Westfield Technical Academy, Annabeth Lemberg of St. Mary’s High School, Nola Lane Borsari of
Coburn School hosts Drum Perks Assembly
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Phil-
ip G. Coburn Elementary School proudly hosted a vibrant Drum Perks Assembly by Mobile Ed Productions on May 11, where K-5 students engaged in interactive drum sessions that promoted creativity, teamwork and cultural understanding. The event provided a fun and educational experience that helped students develop new musical skills and create lasting memories. This program was sponsored, in part, by a grant from the West Springfield Cultural Council, funded by the Mass Cultural Council. Coburn School extends its gratitude to the West Springfield Cultural Council and the Mass Cultural Council for their continued commitment to enriching arts and culture in our schools.
The mission of Coburn’s Parent Teacher Organization is to foster a collaborative relationship between parents and teachers to support the educational and developmental needs of students. We aim to enhance the school experience
through fundraising, organizing events, advocating for students and staff, and promoting a positive school community. Our ultimate goal is to create a supportive environment
West Springfield High School, Asher Rose of Southwick Regional and Timothy Rua of Agawam High School.
The Most Valuable Student Scholarship is the most prestigious award for educational assistance given by the Elks National Foundation. Five hundred students went through a lengthy, arduous journey on the path to this distinction. Maddie Balzano, from Agawam High School, was named a 2026 Most Valuable Student and will receive a $4,000 scholarship.
“Maddie is an optimistic, empathetic, driven and energetic leader. She is quite the inspiration and leader and is exactly the kind of person who will attract followers and institute true change in the world,” O’Connor said.
Certificates and flags were
presented to Eagle Scouts Benjamin Stoltzfus and Liam Blais from Westfield troop 821. Stoltzfus built and installed a trailhead kiosk for the Parsons Pine Barrens conservation area in Northampton for his Eagle Scout project. Blais repaired and repainted the student support center at Westfield Technical Academy. An Eagle Court of Honor for the two will be held at the Elks Lodge on May 23.
Andrew Caldeira, also a scout, received a Certificate of Appreciation for volunteerism in service of Elks Lodge #1481. “Andrew, a freshman in manufacturing at Westfield Technical Academy, is a frequent helper in the kitchen for our burger nights, as well as at numerous other events, particularly the veteran activities,” O’Connor said.
Top row, from left: Patricia O’Connor, youth activities chair and Most Valuable Student winner Maddie Balzano from Agawam High School. Westfield-West Springfield Elks #1481 scholarship winners are named. Pictured, from left, Exalted Ruler Gary Fontaine, Brandon Cekovsky, Annabeth Lemberg, Nola Lane Borsari, Asher Rose, Julia Kubik, Timothy Rua, state Rep. Kelly Pease and Patricia O’Connor. Elks National Americanism Essay winners, back row from left, Patricia O’Connor, Emmalynn Bishop, Karyna Sholopa, Sophia Fields. Front row from left: Nancy D’Ambrosio, Ava Cooney, Claire Camberis, Daphne Bouyea and Teagan Wapner. Not pictured is Yvette Whitley. Bottom row, from left: Past Exalted Ruler Milt Vazquez and Eagle Scout Ben Stoltzfus. Past Exalted Ruler Milt Vazquez and Eagle Scout Liam Blais.
WEST SPRINGFIELD VS HOLYOKE TENNIS
On April 27, West Springfield defeated Holyoke 3-2 in a girls tennis match played at Holyoke High School.
Imany Takksoliva and her partner Bella Pedro won at second doubles 6-0, 6-0.
Anna Kudriavtseva serves during her first doubles contest.
West Side’s Kenzie Candon awaits the serve from Holyoke’s Grace O’Shea-Griffiths.
Eliza Bak prevailed at third singles 7-5,6-1.
Eliza Bak battles during her first set win.
West Springfield’s Vernice Olivan employs the lob to win a point at second singles.
Shemia Tamang’s volley at the net scores a point for the Terriers.
Kenzi Candon earned was victorious at first singles 6-4, 6-1.
The second doubles team of Bella Pedro (L) and Imany Takksoliva shakes hands prior to the match.
Bella Pedro uses the backhand to return serve.
DiZoglio wants former Campbell rival to represent her in audit case
By Colin A. Young State House News Service
BOSTON
— Now that Attorney General Andrea Campbell has said she will allow Auditor Diana DiZoglio to secure outside counsel to represent her in a lawsuit against the Legislature, DiZoglio says she plans to have Shannon Liss-Riordan, a one-time political opponent of Campbell, carry the case for her.
The Supreme Judicial Court on May 7 gave Campbell 30 days to decide whether or not she would represent DiZoglio in the auditor’s pursuit of claims against the Legislature for alleged failure to respond to four specific requests outlined in a January 2025 memo. Those requests were part of an audit that DiZoglio attempted to conduct in keeping with a 2024 law that was approved by 72% of Massachusetts voters.
Campbell, during an appearance on GBH Radio on May 14 said she will shortly send DiZoglio her response, “allowing her to proceed to appoint an attorney to then go into court with respect to those four things, and this will move forward.”
The four things specifically mentioned in the January 2025
memo and in last week’s court hearing were the official budgets for each chamber of the Legislature for fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; copies of official audits of each chamber for the same fiscal years; a listing of all transactions related to each chamber’s balance forward line item for those fiscal years; and a list of all monetary settlement agreements entered into by each chamber with any current or former employees or elected members during the same timeframe.
“The court forced some clarity and specifics that we had been seeking, which was this: these four things, auditor, you can proceed with those, but you have to keep your audit within those four things, which was not something she was willing to say to us initially,” Campbell said. “So, we’re going to move forward. That letter will be coming very soon to the auditor.”
Campbell’s office told the News Service the letter had not been finalized and could not be shared.
The audit law said the auditor “shall audit the accounts, programs, activities and functions directly related to” the Legislature, but top legislative Democrats
have resisted, citing constitutional separation of powers concerns. DiZoglio’s office said it looked forward to receiving the letter that Campbell “publicly promised.” It also indicated that Liss-Riordan, who lost to Campbell in the 2022 Democratic primary for attorney general and presented oral arguments to the SJC on DiZoglio’s behalf last week, will continue to represent the auditor’s office.
“We are pleased that the AG has now publicly committed to allowing our office to appoint an attorney of our choosing to represent the will of the People in our pursuit to enforce the legislative audit in court. Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan did an excellent job representing the 72% before the SJC and we are thrilled to be moving forward with her generous offer to take on this important case,” DiZoglio spokesperson Alysha Palumbo Garvin said. “We are cautiously optimistic that this also means the AG will be withdrawing her motion to strike on behalf of the Speaker and Senate President.”
Campbell mentioned Liss-Riordan on GBH and said that her appointment to represent DiZoglio would be subject to a “conflict check.”
When the audit case was before the SJC last week, Assistant Attorney General Anne Sterman told the justices that, for the case to proceed, DiZoglio’s original complaint against the legislative leaders would need to be stricken, amended to conform to the attorney general’s office’s way of doing things, or have a new complaint substituted for it.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be a brand new case. But I think at the end of the day, what needs to happen is that if the attorney general authorizes a complaint within certain parameters, then that becomes the operative complaint in the case, not the one that is before the court today,” Sterman said as the court considered Campbell’s motion to strike that lawsuit.
Responding to a question from program host Jim Braude, Campbell said on May 14 there is no situation in which her office would represent the Legislature, as it has during an attempt to have the courts toss DiZoglio’s lawsuit, against DiZoglio’s special assistant attorney general.
“What would happen now is, we would proceed SAAG-ing all parties, meaning giving everyone a special assistant attorney gen-
eral ... they then proceed back to the court on those four items, and then we’re out of it,” the attorney general said. “The only reason we would be pulled back in, which is always a possibility, is if the court came to us and asked us our opinion on something, including the constitutionality of something else. And we would show up, obviously, if the court asked us to.”
During the May 7 hearing on Campbell’s motion to strike DiZoglio’s lawsuit against House Speaker Ronald Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, and the House and Senate clerks, justices made clear they wanted to break the logjam. Justice Scott Kafker said the two sides were “stuck and not moving, and the people are waiting for an answer.”
“Ultimately, you two don’t get to decide to leave it in limbo indefinitely, because the people have an interest in having that resolved, and this court ultimately decides whether that’s constitutional or not, not you,” Kafker said.
Colin Young is the deputy editor for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach him at colin.young@ statehousenews.com.
Fire marshal offers tips after home oxygen fire in West Springfield
WEST SPRINGFIELD — A Riverdale Street resident was seriously injured in a fire that started with smoking materials and home oxygen, said West Springfield Fire Chief Christopher J. Bartone and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine.
“There’s no truly safe way to smoke, but smoking on home oxygen is especially dangerous,”
Impact
Continued from page 4
that figure estimated at $18,000
said Bartone. “If you or someone you love uses home oxygen, please don’t smoke.”
The West Springfield Fire Department responded to an apartment building at 2071 Riverdale St. early on the morning of May 11 for a report of a fire. One resident, a man in his 70s, was injured and transported for medical care.
West Springfield fire investi-
on Nantucket.
During a Cape Cod housing tour on May 12, Cyr was driving Housing Secretary Juana Matias and state Rep. Hadley Lud-
gators and State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office determined that the fire started in the man’s bedroom. Based on an examination of the scene and witness interviews, they determined that it was accidental and the result of smoking on home oxygen.
“Fires will start easier, grow faster, and burn hotter in an oxygen-rich environment,” said Da-
dy around Truro when he was pulled over for allegedly speeding through a stop sign. Cyr said he got a warning, not a ticket, and used the opportunity to ask the of-
Every week we will provide you with a complete listings of deaths from the preceding week from throughout Greater Springfield. We are doing this as a convenience to our readers in case you miss an obit in the daily paper. We hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly.
AGAWAM
Joseph Philip Audette
Barbara A. Bradley
Robert E. Forgette
Mary Kiefer
FEEDING HILLS
Robert G. King
Joseph D. Sopet
WESTFIELD
Louise G. Amerman
James
Roger A.
Andrew D. Scheip
vine. “Medical oxygen can saturate the user’s hair, clothing and bedding, putting them at great risk for severe injury.”
On average, three to five Massachusetts residents die each year in fires involving smoking and home oxygen. More than a dozen people perished last year, including 10 residents at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River.
ficers how they are handling the housing squeeze.
Cyr said he learned that two of the officers lives in Plymouth, and the other in Sandwich.
The Department of Fire Services offers educational brochures on home oxygen fire safety for patients, clinicians, and caregivers in five languages. Visit the DFS website to download and share them here: mass.gov/info-details/dfs-fire-safety-education-flyers#home-oxygen-safety.
“This speaks to the extent of the housing crisis here, where our police and public safety don’t live in our towns or in our next towns,” Cyr said. “They have like an hour-and-a-half commute to go to work every day — without traffic, by the way.”
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@ stateaffairs.com.
Philip Hosmer “Terry” Ball III
Walter Gebryel
Page
Paradise City Arts Festival returns for 31st year later this month
A look around last year’s Paradise City Arts Festival.
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
NORTHAMPTON — The nation’s premier destination for lovers of the handmade and high-end is once again gracing the region over Memorial Day weekend. Paradise City Arts Festival will return to the Three County Fairgrounds at the end of this month for another three-day stretch that celebrates creativity in multiple facets.
The festival, which runs from May 23-25, will feature 200plus world-class artists and makers traveling from every corner of the country to showcase their craft. The premier showcase features contemporary craft and fine art, including handmade home décor, sculpture, fashion, jewelry and more.
“Jeff and Linda Post originally founded the show in 1995, and we have been going in Northampton as well as across New England, Pennsylvania, Florida. They launched shows all over the east coast,” Show Director Mariah Swanson told Reminder Publishing. “What was so innovative about this particular kind of art fair is it put fine craft on the same pedestal that fine art was being viewed from at that point, so it’s taking the best of the best from around the
country across all these different kinds of mediums. It’s fine art and photography, but it’s also ceramics, it’s mixed media, it’s sculpture, it’s wearables, it’s jewelry, and this is an opportunity to see 200 artists who are just the best at what they do at this premium kind of quality. You get to meet the artists and hear their stories, learn about their process, and just be face-to-face, which is becoming just as important as it ever was, especially in this digital era, so it’s really celebrating the craft of the human hand.”
Swanson said that this year feels particularly electric because there are more new faces. The weekend show is designed to be a full-scale cultural affair, and whether you are a serious collector or a family looking for a memorable afternoon, there is a rhythm to the weekend that invites everyone to stay and play.
“We’re in this really kind of unique position, similar to how music has been so successful in Northampton, where we seem to be in this smaller community in Western Massachusetts but it’s able to attract people from New York, from Boston, an incredible amount of very high cultural intellectuals who want to be able to collect and build on their collections but aren’t necessarily going to be in one of
these large economic hubs,” added Swanson. “It’s just a really beautiful, quaint opportunity to be in this area of the Pioneer Valley and also have exposure to these beautiful hotels, music venues, great restaurants, and where you can make a whole weekend out of it. But it’s really this great destination you can come to for the arts.”
The sensory experience doesn’t just stop at the easel, as nearly a dozen local restaurants and food trucks will be on-site, and the entire festival weekend will feature jazz, blues and folk music from the region’s best bands. On opening night, the festival will feature a headline performance by the indie-pop luminaries Winterpills.
The festival is open each day at 10 a.m. and closes on Saturday at 9 p.m., Sunday at 5 p.m. and Monday at 4 p.m. On Saturday, artists and makers close at 6 p.m., and then the concert begins. Local food and the beer garden will remain open until 8 p.m.
Tickets are $14 in advance, $16 at the gate, and those who are 15 and under can enter for free. Advance tickets can be purchased at festivals.paradisecityarts.com/ shows/northampton-may-show.
New to this year’s festival weekend is the debut of the Emerging Artist Collective, a brand-new
initiative dedicated to fostering the next generation of talent. The collective will allow up to three emerging artists to share a booth and gain exposure during the weekend.
“It’ll be three artists per space and that’s been juried and curated at the same level, and it’s an opportunity to get their foot in the door, get in front of the Paradise City Arts audience and cultivate their career, and also an opportunity for the public to be able to see these incredible emerging artists and get some new faces,” added Swanson.
Attendees are also encouraged to catch the live demonstrations during the weekend like Art in Action, where audiences can watch raw materials transform into masterpieces across multiple mediums. Additionally, attendees can participate in a creative activity called Crafting with Color, which is designed for the whole family.
The Silent Art Auction is also returning this year to again benefit the International Language Institute of Massachusetts. This organization provides free English classes for immigrants and refugees from around the world as they build new lives for themselves and their families.
An array of donations by Paradise City Arts exhibitors will be
available for open bidding each day at the Silent Auction tables, with 100% of proceeds directly supporting International Language Institute of Massachusetts programming.
“Their work is more important than ever right now and really directly impacts anyone who’s relocating to the area trying to grow their life and offer language classes,” Swanson said.
Swanson shared that the event is beloved in the community because of the showcase and the communal support for the festival. She said that this festival embodies the passions of each artist and oftentimes serves as their livelihood.
“We want to make it feel welcoming and diverse so that they [artists] feel supported because there’s an incredible amount of talent out there, but they don’t always feel like they have access to these kinds of platforms, and it’s very, very different than selling online,” added Swanson. “We have lots of great new ways of exposing their work and meeting buyers through social media and online, but nothing beats face-to-face because it allows them to get in-the-moment feedback on their work. It’s really valuable in terms of how they continue to choose to make their work and grow their career.”
Academy of Music Theater to stage ‘Legally Blonde The Musical
NORTHAMPTON — The Academy of Music Theatre is thrilled to announce its upcoming Academy Youth Production, “Legally Blonde The Musical Jr.”, on Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30, at 7 p.m. Based on the hit film and the 2007 Broadway musical by the same name, “Legally Blonde The Musical Jr.”, features young actors ages 12-17.
This fun and upbeat musical follows the adventures of a sorority girl named Elle Woods who tries to win her ex-boyfriend back by earning a Harvard law degree. Once at school, she is challenged by her peers, professors and her ex, but with the help of some new friends, Elle realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world.
“Legally Blonde The Musical Jr.”, is co-directed by Academy Education Director Kyle Lawrence and Academy Associate Education Director Zazie Tobey; music direction is provided by Lauren Fleit and stage management is provided by Madison VanDeurzen. Tickets are available at aomtheatre.com or by calling the box office at 413-584-9032. Ticket prices range from $15.16 to $23.95, including all fees.
Academy Youth Productions invites young actors to embark on a journey of artistic expression, self-confidence and teamwork.
Since 2011, the Academy has been a beacon of creativity, educating school-aged students in theater, music and dance, and fostering a love for the arts in the Northampton community.
“Legally Blonde The Musical Jr.”, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. Book by Heather Hach. Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer mo-
tion picture. “Legally Blonde The Musical Jr.”, is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
The Academy of Music Theatre’s 2025-26 season is supported in part through the generosity of Hilltown Families, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, O’Connell Development Group, Berkshire Brewing Company, Thornes Marketplace, The Northampton Collection, Whalen Insurance, Northampton Cooperative Bank, Greenfield Savings Bank, Florence Bank, Easthampton Savings Bank, Barr-Klarman
Photo credit: Paradise City Arts/ Lynne Graves Photography
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